Print the Legend

There is a line from an old John Ford movie that explains much of the mythology of America and, indeed, the current deification of celebrities: “This is the West … when the legend becomes fact, print the legend!”

I visited the Mexican Heritage Plaza on Friday to see the play, “School for the Americas,” concerning the last day in the life of Che Guevara. It was entertaining and enjoyable, in spite of a degree of anti-Americanism. The next day, a subsequent conversation with the play’s author, Jose Rivera, sponsored by the Commonwealth Club, was low key but nice.

First things first: although august critics like the New York Times panned the play as making Che too pedestrian, I thought the play and the performances quite good; it worked. Teatro Vision is to be commended for the fine performance and I would recommend it to everyone. The play disputed the old movie line as its key theme. Che comes alive in his relationship with a young teacher in Bolivia as he awaits execution. He has glimpses of greatness, but is a sad, forlorn figure. It smacked of reality; it showed the way things probably were.

Any visit to the Mexican Heritage Plaza would also give you a chance to see a facility that was built with such hope but has lately been the source of much controversy. My evening was enjoyable and there was a full house largely composed of students from Bellarmine, DeAnza College and other schools. I was curious what they would feel about the man who adorns tee shirts and shot glasses worldwide amidst the Marxist rants and speeches that are a stable of the play. They seemed to enjoy it—more testimony to the tragedy of the Bush II years.

As the writer of the recent movie about the young Che Guevara, “Motorcycle Diaries,” the author plums deeper reaches of the innocent young adult who would become one of the most famous men of the twentieth century. The condemnation of American policy for Latin American was strident, but understandable. Yet, as was once said of Christianity, “don’t think it has been tried and found wanting; to the contrary, it has never been tried and just been put aside!”  The same could be said of John Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress and other attempts to forge a decent relationship with our neighbors to the far south. We can’t feel that the Soviet experiment in Cuba or the petroleum-funded, raging rhetoric of Hugo Chavez is much of an improvement. These are a play, a subject and a place to take note of, and having all of these elements collide at Alum Rock and King makes for an important and very enjoyable event.

13 Comments

  1. Sure would be nice to see some actual numbers on the MHP—like exactly how much comes in from sponsors, rent, etc., and how much gets spent, should get spent on developing programs, and biggest issue of all, what does it cost yearly for building maintenance. Millions? One could infer that from the request for permanent taxpayer dollars for an asset that ought to be a cash cow. And, Tom, good thing Che died young with his rep for mayem intact, meaning that he got ahead of Robert Frost’s maxim: “I didn’t want to be a radical when I was young because I didn’t want to have to be a conservative when I got old”. Funny, except it’s true. Look what happened to Mario Savio—he became a stockbroker on Montgomery St. in The City. Every one of the Berkeley Rads I knew in the 60’s ended up in the same way.
    George Green

  2. Imagine finfan’s surprise when he learns that MHP is open to more than just Mexican people and teaches more than just Mexican culture. Oh, but it’s just a “special interest group”…

  3. George – what is it Churchill said, ” If you’re not a liberal when you are 20, you have no heart; and if you are not a conservative when you are 40, you have no head’ or something like that.  Maybe it was Bill Clinton – but it is the path of many.    TMcE

  4. Tom,

    In regard to finfan’s and JMOs posting in Jack’s thread on this subject, I am wondering how much public urination and goat slaughtering you saw.

    They both say it is commonplace in this area.

  5. Turk,

    If you want to imagine my surprise, then you should imagine my reaction should you author a post demonstrating a depth of comprehension or even a hint of integrity.

    Either the MHP came into being to promote Mexican heritage and culture or those responsible for naming it were smoked-up on Acapulco Gold. From the name came the political muscle and energy required to separate from the taxpayers a small fortune to pay homage to the heritage and culture of Mexican-Americans, a special interest group that (one that has subsequently failed to attract the support and interest necessary to make its project a success).

    I suppose in your world the founding idea always was that the plaza be used to celebrate all cultures and heritages. Well you (and MHP propagandists) can revise history any way that serves your purposes, but if your version of history were correct, then the big story is how everyone from the city council to the local media to the taxpayers opposing it got it all so wrong.

    A quote from Blanca Alvarado’s website on the plaza’s grand opening:

    The Plaza is a place where the community can meet and exchange ideas, a place where individuals can reflect upon and appreciate the arts, culture, and heritage of the Mexican-American community, and serve as an important milestone in the community’s efforts to promote the rich cultural diversity and history of the valley.

    – – – –

    Not a Novice,

    Show me a word that I used when describing backyard goat slaughtering that could be interpreted as “commonplace” and I won’t consider you a despicable liar who is not worth my time.

  6. Tom, you forgot to mention that Che Guevara was half Irish.  You may want to take a justifiable pride in our co-ethnic’s successes as well as mourn his failures.

  7. Dear Tom,

    Thank you for your post. I couldn’t agree more.  Today’s discussion at the Rules Committee meeting of the City Council over the opertions model for this singular place will be an important extension of the substantive conversation catalyized by this blog. I look forward to participating in that conversation.

    Today’s editorial in the Mercury News also provides important information and helpful suggestions for everyone to consider.  However there are two items in the editorial which require correction:

    First, the claim or implication that the present shortfall in MHC operating revenue is the result of MHC’s failure to reduce costs.  This is not the case.  As the editorial correctly noted, one of the ways MHC raises funds is through its mariachi festival. Upon closing the books on the mariachi festival this year, we reported that our net revenue fell short of original projections. MHC immediately instituted cost cutting measures, did not fill planned staff positions, and instituted an across the board revenue plan to increase earned revenue through facilities rentals and contributed revenue. 

    Why, the public may justifiably ask, the shortfall?  One part of the answer is within the report generated by the City Auditor and discussed at length in this blog—the current operations model at the PLaza is structured so that key resident users of the venue pay steeply discounted rates.  As a result the MHC subsidizes the use of these non-profit groups.  MHC cannot generate sufficient revenue to cover both this subsidy and the basic maintenance costs of the building.  Until the economic structure of the use of the facility by non-profit groups is changed so that all of the costs to use the facility are recovered through an appropriate rental structure, this subsidy will continue to impact MHC’s operating budget.  Both the resident groups and MHC have asked the City to facilitate the resolution of this dilemma and the consultant’s assessment is part of that process.

    The MHC subsidy of this use of the facility covers about one half of the shortfall.  What about the other half?  Those are comprised of basic maintenance costs.  And as the Mercury News editorial rightly points out, the model for covering those costs—utilities, repairs, liability insurance etc., should be borne by the owner of the building.  This is the successful model utilized by the City for its stewardship of the Museum of Art.  That permits the non-profit programmer to re-invest all of its earned revenue from programming back into program delivery, instead of buidling maintenance.  We are very proud of our reputation as programmers of the San Jose International Mariachi Festival—and the appropriate use of funds earned from the festival should be re-invested into our music education program, not building maintenance.

    The second item in the editorial which we believe requires clarification is the implication that MHC has not done enough to raise contributed revenue.  This is not the case—below is a partial list of our funders in philanthropy:

    The Packard Foundation
    The Christensen Fund
    The Union Bank Foundation
    Arts Council Silicon Valley
    California Arts Council
    National Endowment for the Arts
    The Castellano Family Foundation
    Flora Family Foundation
    First Five Santa Clara County
    AT&T Foundation
    State of California Cultural and Historical Endowment

    Our corporate funders are even more numerous and include such household names as Target, PG&E, Safeway, Coca-Cola, MACYs—the list is lengthy and more importantly these are “repeat customers.”

    But the funds from these philanthropic and corporate donors are to be used for programs, not building maintenance. I will point out, however, that MHC just invested $1 million in contributed revenue it secured to refurbish the physical plant.

    Our fund developement capacity, which drives individual giving from the community has just gotten off the ground thanks to the Packard grant—our staff person has been hard at work for the last six months and we are seeing measurable (and we are measuring) results—as the editorial rightly points out, community giving requires community outreach and participation—we believe given time, our individual contributions will be as robust as our corporate and philanthropic support.

    It’s taken time to stabilize and address the operating model issue with the City—hopefully today’s conversation at the Rules Committee will lead to a new sustainable model for the PLaza so that the important collision of place, art and community taking place there may be sustained. 
         
    Marcela Davison Aviles

  8. Tom,
      It is reasuring that you can visit The mexican Heritage and find community evolving.
      Controversy and fear always makes us stronger. In these uncertain times for the MHPG. Hearing of a full house is inviting. I am sure that Theatro Vision has seen that helping to pay it’s own way is the only way.
     
                The Village Black Smith

  9. Novice, do you ever say anything nice?

    You sound like such a bitter person…

    Take a break from SJI and go get some fresh air. You remind me of that meen little kid from the movie “Toy Story” you know, the one who strapped Woody to a rocket.

    The rest of the people beyond your bedroom are not all bad. You might even make some new friends if you just take a chance.

  10. Like the consultants report, I found the Mercury News Editorial in todays Mercury news, wanting for some sence of compassion and responsibility for the past, related to the Hispanic community at the MHPG.
      “Metro active news Hispanic press” Punch this into your search and read about the spintering of the hispanic community by the mercury news bent on beating out the hispanic press, which long had given press to the non profits of this valley by donations.
      The board of the Nuevo Mundo were none other than the same folks that are no longer at the MHGP. Pete Carriollo, Ester Medina. Victo Garza, Tony Carrillo, Joe Coto, Fernando Zuezata.
      The way it worked is they would be sitting as executive board member of 501c3s. They would send a contract of exclucivity to them selves. Once signed they would then send it back to them selves. The Merc would give back in press or sponorship the amount agreed upon. This may have worked, had it not been for the ferociousness of the Hispanic press that had been supporting the Hispanic non profits for years and now the merc wanted exclucivity at all events. This fractured the hispanic community and doomed the plaza to failure.
      Now that many if not all of these folks have been weeded out have we a chance to unite the community as was intended.
      The 50’s politics and press practiced in those early day is now gone thanks to Dan Fenton and Marcela’s direction.
      The mercury News Editorial Board would do well to refrian from having an opinion until it makes their transgressions into the Hispanic Community an act of apology. Spliting this fragile yet politically motivated group for profits, still bears the scars at the MHPG. One but has to look at the heads of the 501c3s in the east side to see where the control went.
      There is practicly a clean slate working this venue. Where have all the Board members of Nuevo Mundo gone ? They certainly have not made themselves known on this site. Yet the Mercury News Editorial Board sign of as the Editorial Board. I was a casualty of this thoughtless approuch by the Mercury News on the Hispanic Publications. I said it was wrong then and I say it still. It split this community then and now the Merc editorial board wants to spin what is finally going well, to change.
      One cannot bury the past, nor can one predict the future. What we can do is live in the moment. The moment belongs to Marcela at the Mexican Heritage Plaza & Gardens.
      Mercury News, stand down until you make amends on repairing the damage done to our village by stepping on our hispanic press and ideals. Nuevo mundo and the hispanic board are no where to be found.
            The Village Black Smith

  11. Perhaps to better understand to dynamics of why the Mexican Heritage Gardens got to it’s low point prior to the intervention by Marcela, look at these additional sites .

      Metro active news Public Eye
      Metro Active News Mexican Muzzle
     

      This is must reading if you have anything to do with the Mexican Heritage Gardens Issues.
    One can see why the community did not support the politics of the time and stayed away from the Gardens
      It has been a hard lesson learned.
      Marcela and her new Board have accomplished the impossible, clearing the decks of inactive board members 50’s politics and bringing together the whole of community with back to back successful International Mariachi Festivals, and a crisp and fresh management style never seen at the Mexican Heritage Plaza and Gardens.
                  The Village Black Smith

  12. Let me leave you with this feeling, as I sense that the Mayors Office and the City council will vote on the future of the MHC and The MHPG.
      I have chronicled the path of the Mexican Plaza and Gardens since it’s inception. Long before Blanca and Fernando Zuazeta imangined a vision.
      The reason I did this project as I did is becase my Brother Fernando Hernandez a trial attoury had been given an assignment at Model Cities right out of Boult Hall and it was there that he was beaten back by the high prophile hispanics of the time.
      I wanted to chronicle the power base of this village. I have done that, and now it is left to the politicians to decide the fate of a venue that could be the best national attention we as a city could recieve.
      We understand that The Mayor and Blanca, Nora Compos have met to decide all of the input that would decide the fate of this venue.
      I simply ask that we have an open meeting with dialogue about what this 501c3 suffered in the early years.
      I expect that you will contact me to learn more about the negative processes that led to the demise of the MHPG.
      It is thje Mayors office that will write the last chapter of this Manuscripot that will close the politics of the era. Do Not poilitcise the process any longer. The Grand Jury should be involved.
              The Village Black Smith

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